Home > Typhus
This is about the disease Typhus. See Typhus (monster) for the monster in Greek mythology, or typhoid fever for a totally different disease that because of its similar name is often confused with it.
Typhus is a name given to several similar diseases caused by Rickettsiae bacteria. It comes from the Greek typhos, meaning smoky or hazy, describing the state of mind of those affected with typhus. Symptoms common to all forms of typhus are a fever which may reach 39°C and a headache. In tropical countries, typhus is often mistaken for dengue.
There are three types of typhus:
- Epidemic typhus (also called "louse-bourne typhus") often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters. The causative organism is Rickettsia prowazekii, transmitted by the human body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis). Symptoms are headache, fever, chills, exhaustion, and rash. This form of typhus is also known as "prison fever" and as "ship fever", because it becomes prevalent in crowded conditions in prisons and aboard ships.
- Endemic typhusEndemic typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi transmitted by fleas infesting rats, and, less often, Rickettsia felis transmitted by fleas carried by cats or opossums. Symptoms include headache, fever, chills, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and cough. See al (also called "flea-borne typhus" and "murine typhus") is caused by Rickettsia typhi , transmitted by fleaFor the musician, a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, see Michael Balzary. Tungidae Sticktight and Chigoe fleas Pulicidae Common fleas Coptopsyllidae Vermipsyllidae Carnivore fleas Rhopalopsyllidae Marsupial fleas Hypsophthalmidae Stephanocircidae Pygis infesting ratThis is an article about wild rats; for pet rats, see Fancy rat 50 species; see text Several subfamilies of Muridsinclude animals called rats. A rat is a small omnivorous rodent of the genus Rattus . Rats are mammals somewhat bigger than their relatives ts, and, less often, Rickettsia felis , transmitted by fleas carried by catFor alternative meanings see cat (disambiguation). The cat (also called domestic cat or house cat is a small feline carnivorous mammal. Its scientific name is Felis silvestris catus or Felis silvestris domesticus but the species is sometimes referred to as or opossumThe word opossum (usually pronounced without the leading 'O', or with only a very slight schwa) refers either to the Virginia Opossum in particular, or more generally to any of the other marsupials of magnorder Ameridelphia. Opossums are the only marsupias. Symptoms include headache, fever, chills, joint pain, nauseaNausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort from the stomach, with the sufferers feeling that they may vomit. Nausea is a symptom of many conditions, including motion sickness, morning sickness during pregnancy, viral infections, and other diseases., vomiting, and cough.
- Scrub typhusScrub typhus is a form of typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by chiggers, which are found in areas of heavy scrub vegetation. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. An early attempt to cre (also called "chigger-borne typhus") is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by chiggers, which are found in areas of heavy scrub vegetation. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Definitive diagnosis can be obtained by serological testing. Treatment is often with tetracycline or related antibiotics.
There are a number of other diseases caused by Rickettsiae, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever (also known as "Tick typhus"), Rickettsialpox and Boutonneuse fever.
Typhoid fever is a completely different disease caused by various strains of Salmonella, and should not be confused with typhus despite their similar-sounding names.
